New Wave of Czech Animation Released on DVD

New Wave of Czech Animation - the most recent project of the International Festival of Animated Films ANIFEST operating under the umbrella of the Institute of Czech Animation launches the first DVD of a series introducing the selection of young Czech artists - animators.

PRAGUE / CZECH REPUBLIC, 25 January 2010 - New Wave of Czech Animation - the most recent project of the International Festival of Animated Films ANIFEST operating under the umbrella of the Institute of Czech Animation launches the first DVD of a series introducing the selection of young Czech artists - animators. Apart from already known names, e.g.Galina Miklínová or Michal Žabka, the DVD also features the representatives of a newly emerging generation: Martin Duda, Zdeněk Durdil, Edita Krausová, Aneta Kýrová, Jaromír Plachý, Lucie Sunková and Václav Švankmajer. The non-commercial disc of 90 min with English subtitles is meant to become the long missing tool internationally promoting the best young Czech animators. The dramaturgist and the author of the introductory text is the nestor of Czech animation Jiří Kubíček – the Professor of the Film and TV School of Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, Animated Film Department.

After movie theatres had abolished the screening of shorts before a feature-length films (which used to be guarranteed by law in the CR before 1989), and given the international tendency towards producing commercial feature-length formats, the original short films have become a sort of „endangered species“. Despite the fact that for animated production the category of short films is essential and it boasts by a long tradition and famous names, short animated films can only be seen at festivals. This is why the Czech Animation Institute / AniFest consider it their priority to continue the long tradition of classice masters of Czech animation, e.g. J.Trnka, K. Zeman, J. Švankmajer, B.Pojar, or J. Barta, P.Koutský, M. Pavlátová and many others and through its new project „New Wave of Czech Animation“ introduce young Czech animators to the world professional audience as well as to the large public. The DVDs will be presented primarily at leading international festivals, in Czech Cultural Centres and at various film events worldwide.

In his introduction, Professor Kubíček says: „Without anybody planning or forecasting it, Czech animation saw the birth of something new, congenial, viable and meaningful. Let’s call it the “New Wave” as this technical term has a grounded tradition and a solid foundation in the Czech film industry. It is a symbol.

CONTENT:

Contact (2003)

Director: Martin Duda

Designer: Martin Duda

Technique: 3D computer, 2D computer

Screenplay: Martin Duda

Music: Matouš Godík

Producer: FAMU Praha

Playfulness, harmony and conflict between cartoon and digital animation.

Game (2004)

Director: Galina Miklínová

Designer: Galina Miklínová

Technique: Drawing on Paper, 2D Computer, Camera-Free

Screenplay: Galina Miklínová

Music: Pavla Milcová, Petr Binder

Producer: Alkay s.r.o.

Rules and accidents between two players – hand painted and colored “total” animation with subsequent computer processing in Prague’s Alkay studio. The work on the film and screenplay took a year.

Geranium (2005)

Director: Lucie Sunková

Designer: Lucie Sunková

Technique: Painting on Glass

Screenplay: Lucie Sunková

Music: Vladimír Merta

Producer: Krátký film Praha, Spinel Prague Production.

A male and a female fall in love in a bar called Pygmalion. They decide to lead wonderful suburban life together gardening and growing geraniums together. However, their destiny prevents them from doing so and both of them make a mistake that proves fatal to their dreams. There is a geranium at the window to serve as a reminder – nothing else remains.

A Scene from the Life of Antelopes (2004)

Director: Edita Krausová

Designer: Edita Krausová

Technique: 2D Computer

Screenplay: Edita Krausová

Music: Funthomas

Producer: VŠUP

An interpretation of one of the fables for misbehaved children by Jacques Prévert. Antelopes live in Africa with aboriginals and whites. Stray bullets accidentally hit an antelope. Her friends wait in vain for her to come back for dinner...

Radio Kebrle (2006)

Director: Zdeněk Durdil

Designer: Zdeněk Durdil

Technique: 2D computer, combination

Screenplay: Zdeněk Durdil, Džian Baban, Vojtech Mašek

Music: Džian Baban

Producer: FAMU/Bionaut

FreshFilmFest 2007

FILM FUTURA 2009

Prior to founding his legendary Monstrkabaret, renowned variety artist and entertainer Fred Brunold, scraped by doing anything and everything he could. For instance, he worked as an employee at a certain parasitic radio station. Fred's rich experience from his job as a reporter is illustrated in this enlightening story about little Janik and his dangerous excursion to see his grandfather, Jaroslav Kebrle.

3rd award – Animfest 2009 and special mention by the student jury for best script

Best animated film – Balchik 2009

Mrs. G. is a puppet love story full of funny situations that occur during the co-existence between a man and his unusual female life-partner. You can expect humor, romance and at times even thrills.

Whoops, Mistake! (2008)

Director: Aneta Kýrová

Designer: Aneta Kýrová

Technique: 2D computer

Screenplay: Aneta Kýrová

Music: Ivan Doležálek

Producer: Vendula Kraslová

The storks from the sky delivery service have long, noisily clapping beaks. When they stop to chat, anything can happen. Aneta Kýrová tells a story about two mismatched children, or it would be better to say a human baby and a bear cub. In the writer's version, the story has an unusual ending based on the common experiences shared by all parents. In the end, parents must adapt to their offspring regardless of what they are.

Torchbearer (2006)

Director: Václav Švankmajer

Designer: Václav Švankmajer

Technique: Puppets

Screenplay: Václav Švankmajer

Music: ENVOI1

Producer: Bionatut

Cracow Student Jury Award

Fresh Film Fest – best animation

There is a city with a large labyrinth. Day and Night and the Sun and the Moon keep alternating above the city in a seemingly never-ending cycle. Suddenly the gear sticks and then stops and the city is covered in endless darkness. The hero enters the labyrinth and wanders along its dark corridors. He is followed by guards who, at first sight, look like motionless statues of Ancient women. But they come back to life behind the hero’s back who is on his way into the heart of the labyrinth to pass three tests.